Colombian Government Defends Deforestation Efforts Amidst Measurement Controversy

Despite ongoing governmental efforts, deforestation in Colombia remains a persistent issue. The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) announced on July 31 that 113,608 (208,700 acres) hectares of forest were lost in 2024. This figure is equivalent to nearly three times the size of the city of Medellín, with the Amazon region experiencing the most significant impact.

Minister of Environment Lena Estrada Añokazi acknowledged the gravity of the situation during the press conference, stating that the government’s efforts “are not sufficient because deforestation persists.” She highlighted the particular concern for the Colombian Amazon, citing its fragility and the vulnerability of its populations.

While the official data from the IDEAM’s Forest and Carbon Monitoring System (SMByC) reported the loss of 113,608 hectares, international platforms such as Global Forest Watch have cited a higher figure of 213,031 hectares for the same period. This significant discrepancy has prompted a defense of the government’s methodology.

Minister Estrada Añokazi addressed the disparity directly, emphasizing that the official data is based on a methodology specifically adapted to Colombian territories and ecological conditions. “The real figures for deforestation are these, the ones we are presenting today, and not from any other source with an external measurement,” she stated. “We must trust our Colombian work, our product, our institutions, and our teams that make an enormous effort to perfect this monitoring system,” she added.

Ederson Cabrera, the coordinator of the SMByC, explained that the difference stems from distinct definitions and methodologies. The SMByC’s system generates official data for Colombia by adhering to the country’s specific legal definitions of “forest” and “deforestation.” In contrast, international platforms monitor “tree cover loss,” a broader metric that includes the removal of trees outside natural forests, such as in urban areas or agricultural plots, which are not classified as deforestation under Colombian law.

“That is why the tree cover loss figures are often higher,” Cabrera explained. “They include all possible changes that occur in the planet’s forests. In contrast, our figures are more precise and restricted to the natural forests of Colombia.” He also noted that international platforms sometimes focus solely on “primary forest loss,” a measure that can yield lower figures than those from IDEAM, as the Colombian entity includes all types of natural forests in its assessment.

The 2024 report, based on satellite imagery, regional authority information, and quality control processes, identified several key drivers of deforestation. These include land grabbing for cattle ranching, unsustainable practices in extensive livestock farming, unplanned transportation infrastructure, illicit crop cultivation, illegal logging, illegal mining, and the expansion of the agricultural frontier into restricted zones.

The report also detailed deforestation within the country’s protected areas. The Parques Nacionales Naturales (National Natural Parks) experienced a loss of 10,127 hectares, concentrated primarily in the Amazonian parks of Tinigua (3,684 hectares), Sierra de la Macarena (3,361 hectares), and Serranía de Chiribiquete (2,102 hectares).

Despite the persistent challenge, the report indicates a cumulative reduction in deforestation of 39% between 2022 and 2024 compared to the 2021 baseline of 174,103 hectares. This result exceeds the National Development Plan’s goal of a 20% reduction. Furthermore, the country has recorded three consecutive years of a sustained downward trend in deforestation. The 2022-2024 period saw a cumulative deforestation figure of 316,381 hectares, a lower total than in preceding government terms.

IDEAM director Ghisliane Echeverry attributed these results to the “Comprehensive Deforestation Containment Plan,” which involves collaboration with communities, criminal investigations, institutional strengthening, and the deployment of public forces. The minister called for a broader societal commitment to preserving the Amazon’s ecosystems, stating, “I call on all of society to start forming committees for life.”

Rainforest on Colombia’s Pacific Coast of Chocó. Photo credit: Loren Moss.